There weren't as many fireworks at the Memorial Day weekend box office this year as newcomer "Tomorrowland" disappointed with a $32.2 million debut.

The science-fiction adventure stars George Clooney and was directed by Brad Bird of "Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol" renown. The Disney release is expected to pull in $40.7 million for the four-day period.

ANAHEIM, CA - MAY 09: (L-R) Actor George Clooney, lawyer Amal Clooney and Mia Alamuddin attend the after party for the world premiere of Disney's 'Tomorrowland' at Disneyland, Anaheim on May 9, 2015 in Anaheim, California. (Photo by Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images for Disney)

Mia Alamuddin (L), Amal Clooney and actor George Clooney arrive at the premiere of Disney's Tomorrowland in Anaheim, California on May 9, 2015. AFP PHOTO/ DAVID MCNEW (Photo credit should read DAVID MCNEW/AFP/Getty Images)

Actor George Clooney kisses the hand of Amal Clooney after arriving for the premiere of Disney's Tomorrowland in Anaheim, California on May 9, 2015. AFP PHOTO/ DAVID MCNEW (Photo credit should read DAVID MCNEW/AFP/Getty Images)

Actor George Clooney kisses the hand of Amal Clooney after arriving for the premiere of Disney's Tomorrowland in Anaheim, California on May 9, 2015. AFP PHOTO/ DAVID MCNEW (Photo credit should read DAVID MCNEW/AFP/Getty Images)

ANAHEIM, CA - MAY 09: Actor George Clooney takes a selfie with a fan at the world premiere of Disney's 'Tomorrowland' at Disneyland, Anaheim on May 9, 2015 in Anaheim, California. (Photo by Jesse Grant/Getty Images for Disney)

ANAHEIM, CA - MAY 09: Actors Mirai Shida (L) and George Clooney attend the world premiere of Disney's 'Tomorrowland' at Disneyland, Anaheim on May 9, 2015 in Anaheim, California. (Photo by Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images for Disney)

ANAHEIM, CA - MAY 09: Cast and crew of the film attend the world premiere of Disney's 'Tomorrowland' at Disneyland, Anaheim on May 9, 2015 in Anaheim, California. (Photo by Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images for Disney)

ANAHEIM, CA - MAY 09: (L-R) Mia Alamuddin, lawyer Amal Clooney actor George Clooney, The Walt Disney Company Chairman and CEO Bob Iger and journalist Willow Bay ride the monorail to the after party for the world premiere of Disney's 'Tomorrowland' at Disneyland, Anaheim on May 9, 2015 in Anaheim, California. (Photo by Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images for Disney)

ANAHEIM, CA - MAY 09: Actor George Clooney (L) and Chairman of the Walt Disney Studios Alan Horn attend the world premiere of Disney's 'Tomorrowland' at Disneyland, Anaheim on May 9, 2015 in Anaheim, California. (Photo by Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images for Disney)

ANAHEIM, CA - MAY 09: Actor George Clooney signs autographs at the world premiere of Disney's 'Tomorrowland' at Disneyland, Anaheim on May 9, 2015 in Anaheim, California. (Photo by Jesse Grant/Getty Images for Disney)

US actor/movie maker George Clooney speaks during the global launch of 100 LIVES initiative and the announcement of a new humanitarian prize in New York on March 10, 2015. The 100 LIVES, initiated to express gratitude to individuals and institutions whose heroic actions saved Armenian lives during the Genocide 100 years ago, is to address the issues of genocide, human rights violations and the power of positive action. AFP PHOTO/JEWEL SAMAD (Photo credit should read JEWEL SAMAD/AFP/Getty Images)

THE FACTS OF LIFE -- Pictured: George Clooney as George Burnett -- Photo by: Ron Tom/NBCU Photo Bank

UNITED STATES - MAY 02: ROSEANNE - 'Let's Call It Quits' - Season One - 5/2/89, Roseanne has difficulty accepting new rules from a tough new supervisor at the factory. George Clooney (Booker) stars., (Photo by ABC Photo Archives/ABC via Getty Images)

George Clooney and Michelle Pfeiffer on phones in backseat of car in a scene from the film 'One Fine Day', 1996. (Photo by 20th Century-Fox/Getty Images)

George Clooney, Mark Wahlberg And Ice Cube Star In 'Three Kings.' '99 Wb And Village Roadshow Film Limited (Photo By Getty Images)

1999 George Clooney stars in the latest season of 'ER.'

NEW YORK, NY - MARCH 02: Actor George Clooney attends SeriousFun Children's Network's New York City Gala at Avery Fisher Hall, Lincoln Center on March 2, 2015 in New York City. (Photo by Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images)

WESTWOOD, CA - DECEMBER 5: Actor George Clooney attends the 'Ocean's Eleven' Westwood Premiere on December 5, 2001 at the Mann Village Theatre in Westwood, California. (Photo by Ron Galella, Ltd./WireImage)

George Clooney (Photo by Vera Anderson/WireImage)

HOLLYWOOD - MARCH 31: Actor/director George Clooney arrives to the premiere of Universal Pictures' 'Leatherheads' held at Grauman's Chinese Theatre on March 31, 2008 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images)

BERLIN, GERMANY - FEBRUARY 8: (L to R) Actors Natascha McElhone, Ulrich Tukur, George Clooney and director Steven Soderbergh attend the 53rd Berlinale Film Festival February 8, 2003 in Berlin, Germany. Their new film 'Solaris' was written and directed by Soderbergh. (Photo by Kurt Vinion/Getty Images)

David Strathairn and George Clooney during 2005 Venice Film Festival - George Clooney - Sighting in Venice Lido, Italy. (Photo by George Pimentel/WireImage)

US actor and director George Clooney (R) and co-star Renee Zellweger arrive in London's Leicester Square on April 8, 2008 to attend the European Premiere of the film, Leatherheads directed by Clooney. AFP PHOTO / Max Nash (Photo credit should read MAX NASH/AFP/Getty Images)

LOS ANGELES - NOVEMBER 14: Actor George Clooney speaks to the media at the Four Seasons Hotel on November 14, 2006 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Piyal Hosain/Fotos International/Getty Images)

George Clooney at junket for 'Good Night and Good Luck,' a new movie. (Photo by Michael Albans/NY Daily News Archive via Getty Images)

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That's good enough for a first place finish, with Universal's "Pitch Perfect 2″ coming in a close second with an estimated $30.3 million three day haul and a projected $37.9 million for the four days. The a cappella comedy's domestic total stands at $125.4 million.

"Tomorrowland" had been expected to generate $40 million over the three day period and $50 million over the four day stretch. With a $180 million price tag, Disney faces an uphill climb in making its money back. Overseas figures were an underwhelming $26.7 million.

"Tomorrowland" appears to have been dinted by middling reviews and an overly secretive marketing campaign that left too many plot details under wraps. The film's opening weekend crowd was 51% male, with adults making up 61% of ticket-buyers and families comprising 30% of customers.

The weekend's other new wide-release, "Poltergeist," pulled in $23 million from 3,240 locations. The horror remake cost an economical $35 million to produce and was backed by Fox 2000 and Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer.

Warner Bros.' "Mad Max: Fury Road" had a solid hold, adding $23.8 million in its second weekend and pushing its domestic total to $87.3 million. Still, with a budget of $150 million plus production and marketing spending, the apocalyptic adventure has a lot of ground left to cover before it pushes into the black.

"Avengers: Age of Ultron" rounded out the top five, with the superhero sequel nabbing $20.9 million and driving its stateside haul to $404.1 million.

Among art house releases, Fox Searchlight's "Far From the Madding Crowd" expanded from 289 theaters to 865 locations, picking up $2.3 million in the process. The adaptation of Thomas Hardy's novel has earned $5.4 million.

The overall box office will likely be down sharply from last year's Memorial Day weekend, when "X-Men: Days of Future Past" opened to $90.8 million.